Tom nearly retches as he and Evelynn appear in Diagon Alley early in the morning - that is not getting any better, he's sure of it. Evelynn has them Cloaked, thankfully, so nobody's noticing them as he tries not to throw up - one hand on his shoulder, the other rubbing circles into his back. "Easy, Tom, breathe through the nose…"
He nods, trying to quell his nausea through force of will alone - with mixed success. He hasn't thrown up yet, but his stomach refuses to take no for an answer. It doesn't help, he's sure, that they had so far to go - all the way from the Dungeons in Hogwarts to this shadowy back alley in Diagon.
"Alright, good thing I brought these. Nausea Potion."
She hands it to him, and he takes only a brief moment to see that, yes, it is a Nausea Potion before uncorking it and downing it in one go. Merlin, he loves Potions so much. Whoever invented the branch of magic deserves an Order of Merlin. First Class, at that.
After the Potion does its work quickly, and he manages to shake off the feeling of the shadows coating his skin like oil, the two of them straighten up and head into Gringotts.
Once again, the Goblins freak and usher them into Director Ragnuk's office. The expression on his face is priceless once more, as if he's silently asking the universe 'why me?!'
Opening an account for Tom is the work of about ten minutes, especially when Ragnuk sees the Basilisk Skin in the suitcase Tom brought. He's almost literally salivating at the sight. The three of them spend an hour viciously haggling over the fee Gringotts will get out of selling the Basilisk Skin, which ends up being 5% of the profits - and Evelynn sees firsthand just why Tom was so good at Borgin and Burkes, why he was so good at buying things for so little.
And a young Griphook gets put in charge of both their accounts, as well as selling the Basilisk skin - which shocks Evelynn speechless, at the sight of the Goblin that first took her to her Vault and helped her get the Cup. Even if he did betray them in the end, it was enough to get the Cup and get out. And now he's here, put in charge of their accounts without any idea whatsoever of the memories Evelynn already has of him.
She's pulled out of her thoughts by Tom elbowing her in the side, and finds he's tugging her up out of her seat. Once they're out of the office, with Griphook carrying the briefcase like its filled with priceless artifacts, she murmurs "We're done here?"
Tom nods, tilting his head slightly as he asks "Yeah. What happened, you spaced out again?"
Evelynn glances at Griphook's retreating back, and quietly says "Griphook…I knew him. He's the Goblin that first took me to my vault, you see. And he helped us get the Cup. I didn't expect him to be alive already."
Tom blinks, glancing back at the Goblin himself, then says "Oh. That…would be surprising."
Evelynn nods, then says "Let's get back to your Dorm, then. Most everyone should be just waking up." So there shouldn't be any questions about where they've been - getting up at the crack of dawn, while exhausting, does have its advantages at times.
They get back to the dorm without incident, Evelynn hands Tom the other Nausea Potion, and then she heads to her own room.
Later that afternoon, Tom and his group of friends are talking while Evelynn reads a book and comments every once in a while. Theodorus frowns, and says "We've only got two main areas in the British Isles, actually. Diagon Alley, and everything in it, and Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Everything else is hiding in plain sight. There are some mixed communities, like Godric's Hollow, but the Magicals can't use magic where the Muggles might see."
Tom hums, then says "Any new area would have to be substantial, then. An entire town, perhaps."
Evelynn hums, then says "You could make it known for something, to. Hogsmeade is known for being right near Hogwarts, where the townspeople can take shelter if necessary. 'Cause, you know, Hogwarts is supposed to be the safest place in Wizarding Britain." She and Tom share an eyeroll at that, but don't expand any on Evelynn's sarcastic comment. "And Diagon Alley, and everything connected to it, is the place to go to buy things in the Isles. School supplies and otherwise, its more than likely going to be somewhere in the Alley."
Orion and Theodorus share a look, glancing at Tom's expression as Evelynn speaks - they've always known he's going places, known he's got world-changing ambitions and the power to make them reality. And now its looking like they won't be the main force helping him to the top…but Evelynn Peverell.
Tom hums, then asks "What would you suggest, then?"
Evelynn doesn't even look up, casually saying "Off the top of my head? Build a Magical Orphanage, somewhere Magical children can go if they're stuck in the Muggle World or they lose their parents and don't have any other close relatives or anywhere to stay. Make the place self-sufficient, and with enough House Elves to take care of everyone that ends up staying there, with enough food, clothes, and Potions in case something happens. And Ward the entire place so well you could drop a hundred bombs in the area and nobody would feel as much as a breeze. That new magical area could be known for that, specifically. A safe haven, of sorts, perhaps."
Orion incredulously asks "You came up with that off the top of your head? What can you give us after ten minutes of serious thought?! That's incredible!"
Evelynn shrugs, then says " Ask something, then."
Tom leans forward slightly, saying "Say you wanted to change this world. How would you do it?"
Evelynn gives him an amused look, complete with a raised eyebrow, and asks "Aside from tearing it all down and putting together something that works?" Which, most likely, would've actually been easier than trying to reform the Ministry, Wizengamot, and Magical Britain as a whole in Evelynn's original time. Everyone was more interested in their pureblood lineage than actually doing their job, or they were trying to stay on the powerful Purebloods' good sides. Or they were like Cornelius Fudge, too afraid of his own shadow to do anything Lucius Malfoy didn't tell him to do, or Umbridge and her never-ending prejudice against all Creatures.
At Tom's nod, she hums and says "Need a Minister who's not a spineless sop that cares more about looking good for the public than doing his actual job. One who's willing to do whatever it took to actually do that job, even if they aren't particularly liked for it. You'd also need to get the Wizengamot on your side, though I seriously doubt you'd have much trouble with that."
"Oh?" Tom tilts his head to the side, a slightly predatory smirk on his lips as he asks "Why's that?"
Evelynn rolls her eyes - actually rolls her eyes at Tom! - saying "Well, lets see. You can charm the pants off just about anyone you meet, when your not talking circles around them. You thrive in the political scene, Tom. That's one part. You're the Heir of Slytherin, with the Parseltongue to show for it, there's your prestigious lineage. Part two. You can flatten practically everyone in the school with absurd ease, nobody with even a sliver of a brain in their head would say you don't have enough power to be respected. That's part three. And you've spent how long making connections to powerful families?" Her expression silently asks 'What else do you think you need?'
Theodorus says "Well, damn. You've really thought this out."
Evelynn shrugs, and says "I've had time. You'd also need people to like you, though."
Orion raises an eyebrow, asking "Why's that?" He and Theodorus can see Tom's latching onto every word Evelynn's saying, like its pure gold coming out of her mouth instead of - admittedly - very insightful commentary. If he were anyone other than Tom, they'd say he's hanging off her every word. As it is, they're pretty much doing so - Evelynn just seems to have a sense of how people work, how to get them to do what you want.
Evelynn simply says "Simple, really. You could have all the money in the world, so much power your practically exploding with it, and connections to every department of the Ministry, every other Magical Community on this planet…but it wouldn't do you any good if people thought you were a monster, or pure evil. If people were afraid of you, or opposed you at every turn, all of that would be for nothing in the end. So, if you want to be able to change this world…make people like you, get them to put you in a position to make those changes. Make them think it was all their idea, that it was thrust onto you, rather than that you wanted it for your own agenda."
Tom asks "How do you suppose we'd do that?"
It escapes nobody but Tom and Evelynn that he just said 'we' instead of 'I' - as in, at the very least, himself and Evelynn.
Evelynn asks "The Magical Orphanage? Somewhere, say, Muggleborn children could be taught about the Wizarding World's history and traditions? And that's assuming they're the children of actual Muggles and not descendants of Squibs. If it's the latter, the parents could work there or something, or live nearby."
Avery joins in the conversation right then, asking "Descendants of Squibs?"
"Uh, yeah. What happens to Squibs when its clear they aren't able to cast spells? Far as I know, they get thrown out into the Muggle World. So…what about their children? Who's to say the magic won't reappear a few generations down the line?" Honestly, there were more supposed Muggleborns, along with Half-bloods of both kinds, than Purebloods in school in the 1990's, so Evelynn figures she's on to something. If magic were just suddenly appearing out of nowhere, why didn't full-grown adults suddenly start doing magical things? Get upset at some kind of business meeting, and suddenly blow out a window or burn a chart to ashes?
Avery opens his mouth to reject the idea, but stops and does a goldfish impression instead. Tom's secretly convinced Evelynn likes throwing Purebloods for an almost vicious spin. It would appear she delights in making everyone at least as confused as she made him last year, if not far more. She also seems to like getting people to question everything they ever thought was true, including their own existence.
Tom clears his throat as Evelynn goes back to her book, and says "All well and good, Evelynn, but your forgetting one thing. To do all of that, starting with the Magical Orphanage, we'd need something close to an entire town. Unless you've got some mansion and a surrounding forest hidden in your inheritance somewhere."
She doesn't, he's fairly sure. Or, at the very least, she can't access it yet, and she already said she won't try to touch anything Potter with a ten-foot pole so she doesn't make any trouble.
Evelynn scoffs, looking up from her book with an eyeroll, and says "Tom, you d-" She suddenly cuts herself off, a look of utter shock painting itself on her face as she stares silently at Tom.
"Evelynn?"
She's out of her seat before anyone can blink, muttering "Merlin, I'm a bloody idiot." She heads to the book repository connected to the Common Room, leaving everyone else confused.
They find her looking through the books, muttering "Wards, wards, c'mon, where are you…?" After a moment, her magic flares out and covers the entire room before a book as thick as Evelynn's hand is wide flies into her hands. And then she's heading to a nearby table, somehow avoiding even grazing them while moving between them - without looking up from the book she's flipping through, how the hell?! - and summoning Parchment, ink, and a quill.
Orion murmurs "And we've lost her…" This has happened a few times before, where they'll find her engrossed in a project of some kind...but this is the first time they've ever seen her suddenly start one.
Theodorus asks "Anyone have an idea of what set this off?" One minute they're talking plans, the next she's looking for a book on Wards.
Tom hums, then sits down opposite Evelynn - the others don't go near, but from the looks of it Evelynn's so absorbed in her new project that she's down to answers of only a few words. It takes Tom ten minutes to get back to them, and Orion asks "Well?"
Tom eyes the two of them, the two Purebloods he's closest to in Slytherin...the entire school, actually. Evelynn would probably say they're his best friends, and he'd never admit it but she's probably right. After a moment's hesitation, he says "You both know my suspicions of my father."
Orion and Theodorus nod, they helped Tom look through the historical archives for any mention of a Riddle attending Hogwarts - nothing. They were forced to conclude that 'Tom Riddle' was a Muggle - a horrifying conclusion, due to the implications for Tom. For such charm, power, intelligence, and - admittedly - good looks to come from Muggle blood…he'll have to work almost ten times as hard as any Pureblood with barely a fraction of any or all of it to get anywhere he wants to go.
Tom tugs at one of his sleeves, and says "Well, apparently…the Riddles are the Muggle version of Purebloods. Evelynn's words, not mine."
Orion raises an eyebrow, and asks "How so?" Knowing Evelynn, it'll be either amusing or accurate to the point of semi-insulting.
"Rich. Rich enough to own the entirety of Little Hangleton, bar the Gaunt Shack and the land its on, on the other side of the valley. According to Evelynn…I could actually end up owning an entire town to do with as I wish."
"And? What's Evelynn doing?"
Tom glances over at the occupied table, then says in total exasperation "Writing up a Ward Scheme that could cover an entire town plus the area the Gaunt Shack is in."
The words 'only Evelynn' hang in the air, unsaid but there all the same. As if to prove them correct, said girl calls over "Hey, anyone know where the Ward Scheme for the school is? Or a book on the Wards? Nevermind, I'll just use the Room."
Only Evelynn...
An hour later, they find her with a worn, but preserved, book on Runes, Arithmancy, and Wards more complicated than even the Seventh Years can understand sitting next to a book on the Various kinds of Wards on Diagon Alley, writing almost like she's possessed, and completely deaf to the world. Tom has to steal both her books just to get her to look up for dinner, a sure sign she's really into this as she's never missed a meal yet in the entire time she's been at Hogwarts.
Two days later, she's not writing like she's actually writing out her will and has only days to live - Tom has no idea where the Ward plan went, though. Probably in her trunk, to be honest.
AN: Hey! So, I'm just going to say this now, before anyone gets offended...I'm not trying to steal any ideas from anyone! I got the idea for the magical orphanage all on my own, thinking about things two orphans that didn't fit in at the orphanage they were at would change! Just a disclaimer, since I've seen people get highly offended by sheer coincidences like that WAY too many times.
Anyway, enjoy! More updates coming soon!